Information storing and sorting device



Oct 6 A. J. HILLER ETAL INFORMATION STORING AND SORTING DEVICE Filed June 28. 1960 INVENTORS l L L E R ATTORNEY United States Patent Navy Filed June 28, 1960, Ser. No. 39,412 5 Claims. (Cl. 12916.1)

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention involves a logical computer for use with passive, pulseecho and similar types of search systems. More particularly the invention involves a mechanical storing and sorting device for use with search systems and the like.

The value of a search system of the type described above depends primarily on the skill of its operator. A large number of characteristics of any particular target or radiation source can be determined by routine manipulation of the equipment, but only a skilled operator can correlate the data with previous data obtained from known targets. At present this skill can only be obtained through long periods of experience operating search equipment. The loss of such an operator, therefore, presents a major problem in this field of endeavor.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a new procedure for utilizing search equipment in order to minimize the skill required of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple computing device to be used in conjunction with search equipment to aid in identifying unknown targets.

These and other objects of the invention will be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the assembled computer; and

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view showing inner parts of the computer and its mode of operation.

Referring to FIG. 1 the computer is enclosed in a magazine or case 11. A face plate 12 covers the front of the case and has a number of sliding buttons 13, which may be moved horizontally to cover indicator marks 14. Each button has indicia printed adjacent thereto specifying a quickly identified characteristic of the signal received by the search equipment (not shown). The face plate also contains a reset knob 15 which can be rotated through a substantial angle from its normal position. The purpose of this knob will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Behind the face plate is a stack of data cards 16, each having a small tab 17 which protrudes from the stack in non-overlapping relationship with the remaining tabs. Thus the height of the tabs is equal to the interior height of the case 11 divided by the number of tabs. An indicia plate 18 occupies the extreme right hand side of the case. Opposite each of the tabs 17 on the indicia plate 18 a specific target is listed. The indicia plate slopes backward to maintain proximity between this plate and the tabs and thereby facilitate identification of the latter.

In FIG. 2 the case and parts attached thereto are exploded to show inner detail. The case is separated into a large C-shaped side member 20 and a smaller overlapping side member 21. The edges of these members are folded to marginally engage the face plate 12 and a back wall member 22, the overlapping portions being secured by suitable fasteners through holes such as 23.

Inside the case, the cards fit slidably between the top and bottom portions of the C-shaped side member 20.

Four posts 24 extend from the back wall to the face plate through identical holes 25 in the corners of the cards. These holes are large enough, so that the cards may slide freely in a horizontal direction between prescribed limits which will be defined presently. Screws 25' secure the posts firmly to the face plate. The indicia plate is secured to the back wall by one or more fasteners 26.

A plexiglass window 43 may be inserted at the front of side member 21 to protect the indicia plate and tabs, if desired. Screws 27 are provided which thread into prebored holes in the window. Strip 28 prevents backward movement of the opposed edge of the window while ears 29 provided at the upper and lower edges of member 21 prevent forward movement. By making the window the same thickness as the face plate a continuous front surface is formed by the two.

The face plate is provided with a plurality of slots 30 in which are mounted keying devices. Each such device comprises a pin or key 31 with an integral washer shaped flange 32 seated against the back surface of the face plate. The pin extends into the housing to make sliding contact with the back wall 22. The pins also project a short distance in front of the face plate; and the projecting portion is threaded. One or more button members 34-35 of suitable shape are mounted on this poltion in a conventional manner to provide the buttons 13 shown in FIG. 1.

The pins or keys cooperate with cutaway portions 36 in the cards 16. A cutaway portion is provided in every card for each of the slots in the face plate. The positions of the cutaway portions on each card depend on the target associated with each as indicated by the tab attached thereto. If the slot on the face plate is labeled with an attribute of cards target, the cutaway portion is centered about the right hand end of the slot as is hole 44 with a horizontal dimension equal to twice the distance traversed by the pin. Thus the pin When moved does not disturb the card, nor does movement of the card disturb the pin. When the target does not have such an attribute the cutaway portion is displaced to the right, as is hole 45, a distance equal or less than the maximum pin displacement. Thus the pin will carry the card as it moves to the left, but a similar movement of the card per se does not affect the pin.

Within the limitations set above, the portions may be several forms. For example, the portions may be equal round holes as shown in the drawing with radii approximating the length of the slot. They could also be square or oblong as long as the horizontal length in alignment with the slot is as indicated above. The horizontal length of the displaced portions may be reduced by half, if desired, this reduction being made at the right side of the portion. The vertical dimension of each portion need only be large enough to allow free movement of the pin therein.

The choice of a shape for the cutaway portions depends on the type of operation desired, the method of manufacture, and the material employed. Manufacture can be simplified by making all of the portions equal. On the other hand, a stronger card structure will result, if narrow slots of minimum length are used. Round or square holes of equal size permit the use of a rotary rather than a sliding key or pin.

A rotary key is attached to the knob 15. This key has an axle 37 which is journaled in the face plate and the back wall. A vane 38 is attached along one of its major sides to the axel and thus is rotated by means of the knob 15. The vane may strike the case at the limits of its travel as an indication of its position, or other means such as indicia or detent devices may be employed.

The rotary key cooperates with the cards in a manner similar to the keys 31. Each card contains a cutout portion 39 which registers with similar portions in the remaining cards when all are in the extreme right hand position. The vane 38 is positioned. so that it makes a grazing contact with all of the cards, at least in its horizontal position within the cutout portions. The cutout portion may be at least a part of a circle with the axle 37 passing through its center. In a sense the function if this key is equivalent to that ofthe pins 31, although oppositely directed. The rotary structure, being firmly positioned at its ends gives a smoother and more reliable action, particularly when a number of cards must be shifted.

Operation of the device is simply accomplished by an unskilled operator. The first step is to place all they pins in their right hand position; This signifies that the attribute ascribed to each of the pins is not present in the target signal under study. The knob 15 is then rotated through its full excursion to align the cards in their right hand position. The knob is then placed in a position when will not inhibit subsequent movements of the cards to the left. Each attribute present in the target signal is then entered by moving the corresponding pin to the left. Cards corresponding to targets which do not have this attribute move with the pins and their tabs slide beneath an adjacent card or the face plate. The other cards remain in place since the elongated holes indicating attributes allow them to remain in position when the pins are moved. By selecting a sufficient number of attributes,

the number of completely visible tabs is reduced to one or more insuring the selection of those target(s) having the chosen attributes.

Several structural features may be added to the structure mentioned above to improve its operation. A back plate 40 may be added having slots corresponding to those in the face plate to contact and guide the inner ends of the pins. To insure proper contact the back plate is spaced from the wall by means of washers 41. Spacers 42 keyed on posts 24 may be placed at the corners of the cards to prevent transfer of movement between adjacent cards. The vane type key 38 may be employed in place of sliding pins 31, as previously explained.

A number of materials are available from which the various parts of the device may be constructed. With the exception of the window 43 all parts may be metal, as for example steel. The cards may be cardboard. The device can also be made entirely or in part of plastic materials or hard rubber. Instead of screws or other fasteners the parts may be cemented together.

The dimensions of. the unit are a matter of choice, except of course that the cutout portions cannot overlap. A unit 5 by 7 by 1 inches using A1 inch diameter round output portions, for example, can easily accommodate over two dozen attributes and an equal number of targets.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practice otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A logical computer comprising, a magazine defining a plurality of apertures in one wal lthereof, a number of information cards disposed to slide horizontally in said magazine each defining a like plurality of cutaway portions, a plurality of spacer means mounted in a fixed position relative to said magazine and located at the corners of said cards to prevent transfer of movement between adjacent ones of said cards, a plurality of movable keys extending through said portions, each key passing through a single cutaway portion on each of said cards, all of said portions each covering a portion on one side of each key with said key maximally displaced toward said one side whereby said cards may be displaced in one direction without disturbing said keys, a selected fraction of said portions closely approaching the opposite side of said keys, whereby displacement of said keys in said one direction also displaces the cards defining said selected portions.

2. The computer according to claim 1 where-in said apertures are slots and at least one of said keys are slidable therein.

3. The computer according to claim 1 wherein said apertures are round and at least one of said keys are rotatable therein.

4. The computer according to claim 1 wherein at least part of said cutaway portions have a closed boundary defined by said cards which completely surrounds said keys.

5. The computer according to claim 1 wherein said cutaway portions are arranged in at least three vertically uniformly spaced rows each row including at least three of said portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,618 10/1907 Stretch 129--16.1 1,235,502 7/1917 Robinson 129--16.1 1,351,692 8/1920 Soper 129-16.1. 1,433,836 10/1922 Metcalf 129-16.1 1,744,373 1/1930 Erich 129 1s.1

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

M. R. WILBUR, Examiner. 

1. A LOGICAL COMPUTER COMPRISING, A MAGAZINE DEFINING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES IN ONE WALL THEREOF, A NUMBER OF INFORMATION CARDS DISPOSED TO SLIDE HORIZONTALLY IN SAID MAGAZINE EACH DEFINING A LIKE PLURALITY OF CUTAWAY PORTIONS, A PLURALITY OF SPACER MEANS MOUNTED IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID MAGAZINE AND LOCATED AT THE CORNERS OF SAID CARDS TO PREVENT TRANSFER OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT ONES OF SAID CARDS, A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE KEYS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PORTIONS, EACH KEY PASSING THROUGH A SINGLE CUTAWAY PORTION ON EACH OF SAID CARDS, ALL OF SAID PORTIONS EACH COVERING A PORTION ON ONE SIDE OF EACH KEY WITH SAID KEY MAXIMALLY DISPLACED TOWARD SAID ONE SIDE WHEREBY SAID CARDS MAY BE DISPLACED IN ONE DIRECTION WITHOUT DISTURBING SAID KEYS, A SELECTED FRACTION OF SAID PORTIONS CLOSELY APPROACHING THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID KEYS, WHEREBY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID KEYS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION ALSO DISPLACES THE CARDS DEFINING SAID SELECTED PORTIONS. 